Reflecting on last week’s school shooting in Connecticut (6 letters)

I’m a retired English teacher from Jefferson County, and I followed the tragic news from Newtown, Conn., the whole day last Friday. I watched as teachers talked about locking their classroom doors, keeping their students as quiet and calm as possible, and then walking out of the school with them only when they felt totally assured that the students’ lives were no longer in danger.

Those teachers were performing what is known all over the country in our schools, from kindergarten to 12th grade, as a lockdown drill — only this time it wasn’t a drill. Teachers and students in every school practice this procedure on a set schedule throughout the year, in exactly the same way those teachers did in Connecticut.

As I listened to teachers and children talk about what went on in classrooms, I felt two overpowering emotions: gratitude to the teachers who care for those children every day (and especially this day), and a profound sense of pride that I had the opportunity to be one in the ranks of educators. To be a teacher, with all it entails — mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually — must surely be one of the highest callings in our society.

Judy Boian, Arvada

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

In light of the terrible tragedy in Connecticut, and all the trouble and turmoil in the world, perhaps we all need to take some time to reflect. Regardless of whether we are of any one political party or another. Regardless of whether we worship any particular god, gods, or no deities at all. Regardless of whether we are of any particular country, persuasion of belief. Regardless of whether we are on one side or the other of any issue. Perhaps the world would be a better place if we all could take a breath, drop our pretenses, put away our self-righteous indignation, and practice “God Bless Everyone, No Exceptions.”

Ed Carlson, Highlands Ranch

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

Over the years we’ve put millions of teddy bears out in the cold and rain and snow. And countless flowers have wilted and died out there. We’ve hugged our kids until they gasped for breath. What else can we do? There has to be something! Something that other countries know about and we don’t, I guess.

Genie Enders, Evergreen

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

Letter-writer Jan Bender (Dec. 18 Open Forum) suggested a link between increased secularism and increased evil. I have lived for many years in Britain, then New Zealand, and now the USA. I find, in this country, the most religiosity and the most violence. Statistics confirm my subjective judgment. Recent surveys gave the percentage of the population declaring “no religious belief” as about 15 percent in the USA, 35 percent in New Zealand and 50 percent in Britain. Recent figures for annual gun homicides, per 100,000 population, were 3.7 in the USA, 0.17 in New Zealand and 0.04 in Britain.

Religious people may think secularism is evil, and believe it leads to damnation, but they should not link it to gun homicides. I believe the current steady rise in secularism will lead to broader tolerance for others; and I hope that may, in time, lead to a less violent society.

F. Brian Walter, Englewood

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

I anticipate a groundswell of letters hammering away at stronger gun controls after the Newtown shooting. These are natural, visceral responses, but will widely miss their mark. Fury and protest needs to be directed at Hollywood, the media, and video-game makers. What Hollywood now screens as art is tainted with blood, unwarranted realism, and repeated violence that breeds more violence in ways we’ll never know. The press writes headlines in blood and proclaims “Second Worst School Massacre.” So it should not be unexpected that a few on-edge, latchkey kids whose lives have been wasted playing video games and building up body counts from senseless shoot-’em-ups would want to better their score in real time. Folks, it is the culture, not the weapons.

Joe Gschwendtner, Castle Rock

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

Only bears in hibernation have missed the message sent by the recent spate of killings at the arms of extended-magazine assault weapons. You would think any warm-blooded man would be searching for solutions instead of shopping for an AR-15 for Christmas.

On Sunday, two days after the most recent shooting, Gander Mountain Sports was promoting the Bushmaster, Big 5 was advertising the Colt, and Walmart was promoting tactical knives. Tuesday I was in a gun store in Parker and it was wall to wall with young males lovingly touching the merchandise.

This problem is cultural and cannot be solved by regulation and control. Until we change the focus of our conversation to the sociological and psychological failures of the institutions in our society, we will be marking time until the next shooting.

Francis M. Miller, Parker

This letter was published in the Dec. 20 edition.

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